2024.12.21 OP Stakes Recap Poinsettia

by Robert Yates

Spirit Wind; McCarlee Perkins Photo

HOT SPRINGS, AR – The best horse on paper proved it.

Grade 2 winner Spirit Wind justified her 7-5 favoritism with a victory in the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.

Spirit Wind finished three-quarters of a length ahead of an unlucky Fibber in the 5 ½-furlong race for fillies and mares, 3 and up. It was another half-length farther back to Royal Spa in third.

Spirit Wind ($4.80) provided jockey Fernando Jara with his first career stakes victory. It was the second career Oaklawn stakes victory for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who captured last season’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) with Skippylongstocking.

Spirit Wind, in the second flight early, uncorked a three-wide bid turning for home, gained a clear advantage in midstretch and held Fibber safe in the final yards. The latter closed strongly after being steered to the outside when lacking room in midstretch.

Spirit Wind, under equal top weight of 124 pounds, ran 5 ½ furlongs over a fast track in 1:04.28. The original 12-horse field was reduced to seven following the scratches of Dealing Justice, Girls Weekend, Laura’s Charm, Makeup and Ms. Bucchero.

Spirit Wind races for Miller Racing (Myron Miller), which privately purchased the now-5-year-old daughter of Bahamian Squall following a victory in the $150,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3) in December 2023 at Gulfstream Park.

Spirit Wind has won three stakes races since moving to Joseph’s barn following the sale, including the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint May 27 at Lone Star Park and the $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) July 24 at Saratoga. Spirit Wind is a six-time stakes winner overall.

The Poinsettia was Spirit Wind’s eighth victory in 16 lifetime starts, raising her earnings to $729,590. She raced without blinkers Saturday after wearing the equipment in her previous six starts. Spirit Wind was cross-entered in Saturday’s Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park. The Florida-based Joseph won the Sugar Swirl with favored Mystic Lake.

Racing continues Sunday at Oaklawn. First post is 12:30 p.m. (Central).

POINSETTIA QUOTES

Winning jockey Fernando Jara (Spirit Wind): “She broke good and put me in a good position. Down the lane, she came on strong.”

Winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. (by phone-Spirit Wind): “She got her job done, thank God. For sure, she ran great. He (jockey Fernando Jara) took her back early. I thought she was getting out a little bit without the extended blinker. But once she straightened up, she kind of looked like she had the race. Then, towards the end, it kind of got a little closer. But she held on and that’s the important thing.”